I don't know about the upgrade time getting shorter guys. For me it'll be 3 yrs Sept 9 and I'm 27 spots away from pain and torture as a jr rsv ca. If I get it on the next realignment, it's not likely to happen until late fall. We're trimming down the 146 fleet to 4 or 5 for the ski season, then down to zero. Bae-146 pilots will continue to get the ca slots (they have to commute anyway) and 110 more of them will bump us less senior pilots down come next May. We have no official guarantee that US will take all 70 of our CRJ200's, although we still have the right to fly up to 70 jets for them. Of course you need to consider attrition as well. This all adds up to it being a crap shoot, but my glass is half empty, not half full right now. If you live in PHL, DC, or Norfolk VA your commute would be doable of course.
Right now I'm really better off going corporate. A good corporate job will net you at least RJ CA salary as an FO, more nights a home, better bennies, and no commute. It's a no brainer after you get over your ego driven airline pilot jet jockey dreams. Getting the 'good corporate job' is the trick, one many of us are trying to learn.